Mike Cessario

Mike Cessario is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Liquid Death, a canned water company with the tagline "murder your thirst." The drink hit the shelves in 2019, and in 2022, the company's estimated value hit $700 million. Cessario was inspired to create Liquid Death after attending a Vans Warped Tour in 2009, where he watched concertgoers drink water out of Monster Energy cans to stay hydrated. Cessario wondered why no one had ever marketed water in a similar manner to Monster and began his journey into creating Liquid Death.

Cessario has a marketing background, having served as a creative director for agencies such as VaynerMedia, Porter & Bogusky, and Street League Skateboarding. Having always been passionate about health and fitness, Cessario was begrudged that beer and energy drink brands got to do the cool advertising, so he decided to put his own spin on the water market. Now with 14 flavors as of 2024, Liquid Death has merch with punk rock imagery that includes partnerships with Martha Stewart, Bert Kreisher, and many more.

Not just another water brand, Cessario is dedicated to limiting single-use plastics by packaging Liquid Death water in cans rather than plastic bottles. Cans, unlike bottles, are infinitely recyclable. The company also donates a portion of its sales to fighting plastic pollution.